A groundbreaking initiative is underway to enhance healthcare accessibility and representation for Black Canadians. Triggered by stark health disparities and inspired by ongoing studies, Black Physicians of Canada aims to build a comprehensive database to connect Black patients with Black healthcare professionals. The organization, formed in 2020, seeks to address healthcare inequities and foster culturally sensitive care for Black communities across the nation.
The need for this initiative is underscored by a 2020 study from the University of Minnesota, revealing that Black newborns have a significantly lower in-hospital death rate when cared for by Black physicians. Despite the Black population in Canada more than doubling since 1996, reaching 1.5 million in 2021, only 1.5% of Black Canadians are represented by Black physicians. This discrepancy highlights the urgent need for increased representation and access to culturally competent healthcare providers.
Julie Sobowale, an advocate for the initiative, emphasizes the importance of access to information and physicians.
“People need access to the information, they need access to the physicians. They need to know who’s where and what they’re doing,” – Julie Sobowale.
Sobowale's personal experiences underscore the importance of culturally sensitive care. She recounts her mother's struggles due to inadequate prenatal care and the absence of a Black physician.
“My mother didn’t find out that my brother had sickle cell until after he was born. And he had a pain crisis. She did not have the proper prenatal care.” – Julie Sobowale.
Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, a Toronto obstetrician-gynecologist and past president of Black Physicians of Canada, advocates for systemic changes in healthcare delivery.
“We kind of live in this bubble whereby we don’t think there is disparity within our healthcare system, more so [because] our health-care system is free for everyone and is universal.” – Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal recently published a call for systemic changes, including race-based perinatal data collection, to address health inequity in reproductive care faced by Black Canadians. The report highlights that Black women are nearly four times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than their white counterparts in both the U.K. and U.S.
Dr. Tunde-Byass acknowledges that knowledge gaps contribute to unconscious bias within the healthcare system.
“Knowledge gaps have contributed to ‘unconscious bias within the healthcare system.’” – Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass.
This bias can lead to significant health disparities, as evidenced by CDC reports indicating persistently high maternal death rates for Black women in 2023. Additionally, Black women's risk of miscarriage is 40% higher than that of white women in the U.K., and they are at a heightened risk of pre-term births.
The impact of having a Black physician extends beyond clinical outcomes. It can also provide emotional relief and improve communication between patients and doctors.
“You get straightaway to diagnosis and treatment. The verbal and nonverbal cues you pick up because you understand where this person is coming from. You understand the cultural nuances to every word and that makes a lot of difference.” – Julie Sobowale.
Dr. Somto Ibezi further reinforces the importance of trust in healthcare relationships.
“Black patients deserve healthcare that is culturally sensitive and informed. The reality is, if a doctor shares the same skin colour patients report higher satisfaction, communication and adherence to guidelines for better health outcomes, she adds. ‘Black patients are even more likely to agree to aggressive medical treatment if they’re treated by a Black physician, so that trust is there and it’s vital. You need to trust your doctor.’” – Dr. Somto Ibezi.
The database being developed by Black Physicians of Canada aims to address these issues by promoting visibility and fostering connections among Black physicians across the country.
“There’s a need to connect with other Black physicians across the country who have similar life experiences and practice experiences. They probably graduated in other countries, or maybe they were educated here, but you have a lot of similarities and challenges,” – Julie Sobowale.
This digital hub will serve as a resource for patients seeking culturally competent care and create opportunities for collaboration among healthcare professionals.
“So it’s going to be focused on what people want.” – Julie Sobowale.
The initiative not only seeks to improve individual patient outcomes but also aims to drive systemic changes in healthcare delivery.
“We all want the same thing. We all want access to competent physicians. We want everyone to get proper care,” – Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass.
